Public Market gives fresh options
In a world of fast-paced industrialization and foods that consist of unpronounceable ingredients, it is almost all too rare for one to find stores that make chocolate from scratch or sell spices from all over the world. But the Milwaukee Public Market has all of these treasured treats and more.
Originally founded in the late 1800s by Irish immigrants, the Milwaukee Public Market, located in the Historic Third Ward, was the hubbub of market activity, according to the Historic Third Ward Association. The development of factories and warehouses along the Milwaukee River, as well as the first railroad link between Milwaukee and the Mississippi River in 1849, helped spur more productivity and allowed the Irish to trade their market goods to settlers out west. However, when a devastating fire burned through the Historic Third Ward on Oct. 28, 1892, 440 buildings were destroyed, leaving 1,800 people homeless.
Paul Schwartz, operation and communications coordinator for the Milwaukee Public Market, said that during the 36 years of renovation that went on after the fire, Italian immigrants began resettling the area and brought with them their fresh produce, pastas and spices. By 1915, the Historic Third Ward had 45 Italian groceries, 29 Italian saloons and two spaghetti factories.
While the Great Depression and World War II caused the decline of the warehouse industry, the now restored and renovated Milwaukee Public Market serves as a reminder of the urban market atmosphere the Historic Ward is known for.
“It was basically built to preserve the market feel of local food and gathering. We aim for a cultural village,” Schwartz said.
An endless array of ethnic foods and fresh ingredients await shoppers at 17 Public Market vendors. They sell items such as chocolates, coffee and spices as well as sushi and ravioli.
Although the economic recession has hurt many shops, Schwartz said the Milwaukee Public Market is still financially stable, with gross sales continuing to increase in the past year.
“The reason why the market is sustaining is because of the vendors. Each is great at what they do, and many of them have been voted best of dining in Milwaukee,” Schwartz said.
Milwaukee Public Market vendor Kehr’s Candies was founded in Milwaukee in 1930. This family-owned shop, with locations in the market and on Lisbon Avenue, specializes in old-fashioned candy.
“We have been in the Milwaukee Public Market for four years but have been keeping the tradition alive of old-fashioned candy-making. We still make our stuff from scratch, from truffles to turtles to meltaways,” said Andy Skeels, the shop’s manager.
Skeels said many customers still buy a box of Kehr’s Candies for the holidays.
“To this day we still have local second- and third-generation customers coming to our stores, remembering growing up eating our candies,” Skeels said.
Another shop thriving in the
market is The Spice House, which has between 200 and 250 spices in its store and has specialized in custom blends for 52 years.
“We have stuff from every continent except Antarctica, and we try to bring in spices from the country of origin,” said employee Kate Stearns. “We just started with organic, but we search for best flavor over organic quality.”
According to Stearns, The Spice House has customers locally and worldwide and serves 300 people weekly.
Keeping the spirit of the market alive, the vendors work together to ensure the success of one another as needed.
“If anyone needs something for a demo, vendors are open to bartering. We love the barter system, so we do trading all the time,” Sterns said.
Besides food, the Milwaukee Public Market offers free Wi-Fi and cooking class demonstrations. It also hosts the Outdoor Urban Market between June and October. It consists of works from local artists, jewelers, musicians, photographers and more, adding another dynamic to the thriving marketplace.
“We offer food, events, beer and cheese tastings and just all-around local appeal. We’re an all-around view of Milwaukee,” said Schwartz.
Tags: history, Kehr's Candies, Milwaukee Public Market, The Spice House
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